Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — Lesotho

Rural population share in Lesotho in 2025 — 55.3%. Ranked 56 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 41 pp.

2025 55.3% −1 pp vs 2024
World rank 56of 217
Period maximum 96.3%1960
Period minimum 55.3%2025

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — Lesotho, 1960–202540608010019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 96.3%1962: 95.1%1964: 93.9%1966: 92.9%1968: 91.9%1970: 90.8%1972: 89.8%1974: 89.1%1976: 88.8%1978: 88.8%1980: 88.8%1982: 88.8%1984: 88.7%1986: 88.7%1988: 88.2%1990: 87.1%1992: 85.7%1994: 84.2%1996: 82.9%1998: 81.8%2000: 80.7%2002: 79.5%2004: 78.2%2006: 76.7%2008: 74.8%2010: 72.6%2012: 70.1%2014: 67.4%2016: 64.5%2018: 62.4%2020: 60.4%2022: 58.3%2024: 56.3%2025: 55.3%
Change over the period: −41 pp Annual average: -0.63 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Lesotho

Lesotho 55.3%
World 42.2%
Southern Africa computed 37.8%
Rural population share — Lesotho, by year Lesotho All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 55.3 −1 pp
2024 56.3 −1 pp
2023 57.3 −1 pp
2022 58.3 −1 pp
2021 59.3 −1 pp
2020 60.4 −1 pp
2019 61.4 −1 pp
2018 62.4 −1 pp
2017 63.5 −1 pp
2016 64.5 −1.4 pp
2015 65.9 −1.4 pp
2014 67.4 −1.4 pp
2013 68.8 −1.3 pp
2012 70.1 −1.3 pp
2011 71.4 −1.2 pp
2010 72.6 −1.1 pp
2009 73.7 −1.1 pp
2008 74.8 −1 pp
2007 75.8 −0.9 pp
2006 76.7 −0.8 pp
2005 77.5 −0.7 pp
2004 78.2 −0.7 pp
2003 78.9 −0.6 pp
2002 79.5 −0.6 pp
2001 80.1 −0.6 pp
2000 80.7 −0.6 pp
1999 81.2 −0.6 pp
1998 81.8 −0.6 pp
1997 82.3 −0.6 pp
1996 82.9 −0.6 pp
1995 83.5 −0.7 pp
1994 84.2 −0.7 pp
1993 85 −0.7 pp
1992 85.7 −0.7 pp
1991 86.4 −0.7 pp
1990 87.1 −0.6 pp
1989 87.7 −0.5 pp
1988 88.2 −0.3 pp
1987 88.5 −0.2 pp
1986 88.7 −0 pp
1985 88.7 −0 pp
1984 88.7 −0 pp
1983 88.7 −0 pp
1982 88.8 −0 pp
1981 88.8 −0 pp
1980 88.8 −0 pp
1979 88.8 −0 pp
1978 88.8 −0 pp
1977 88.8 −0 pp
1976 88.8 −0.1 pp
1975 88.9 −0.2 pp
1974 89.1 −0.3 pp
1973 89.4 −0.4 pp
1972 89.8 −0.5 pp
1971 90.3 −0.5 pp
1970 90.8 −0.5 pp
1969 91.3 −0.6 pp
1968 91.9 −0.5 pp
1967 92.4 −0.5 pp
1966 92.9 −0.5 pp
1965 93.4 −0.5 pp
1964 93.9 −0.6 pp
1963 94.5 −0.6 pp
1962 95.1 −0.6 pp
1961 95.8 −0.6 pp
1960 96.3

Southern Africa, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

The share of population living outside urban settlements, as a percent of the total. It is computed as the difference between total and urban population, and therefore inherits every particularity of national definitions of urban areas.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.